L.A. Galaxy win 2nd straight MLS Cup in Beckham's last U.S. game

From Paul Vercammen, CNN

Updated 10:45 AM ET, Sun December 2, 2012

Photos: David Beckham's last U.S. game14 photos

David Beckham's last U.S. game – David Beckham ended his five-year stint in America's pro soccer league in style Saturday as his team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, won the MLS Cup. The Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1 to win the cup for the second year in a row. Nearly two weeks ago, the team announced that Saturday's game would be Beckham's last with the team. Pictured, Beckham addresses the media after the game on Saturday, December 1, in Carson, California.

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Photos: David Beckham's last U.S. game14 photos

David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham drinks out of the MLS Trophy after the victory.

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Photos: David Beckham's last U.S. game14 photos

David Beckham's last U.S. game – Fans hold up signs for Beckham at The Home Depot Center during the game.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham looks on while taking on the Houston Dynamo.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Galaxy captain Landon Donovan holds up the MLS Trophy as David Beckham, lower left, and other teammates celebrate their win.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham attacks as Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall tries to stop the ball in the second half.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham has a free kick in the second half.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham waves to fans as he walks off the pitch after the game.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham kicks a corner kick.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham leaps over Houston's Brad Davis in the second half.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham celebrates in the second half.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham and Houston's Ricardo Clark go for a header in the first half.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – Beckham attempts to disrupt an inbound pass by Houston's goalie Tally Hall in the second half.

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David Beckham's last U.S. game – After the win, Beckham celebrates with his sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.

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Story highlights

David Beckham thanks supporters, says he hopes he brought interest to the game

The L.A. Galaxy beat the Houston Dynamo 3-1 to win the MLS Cup

It's Beckham's last game for the team and in the U.S. pro league

Fans give him a rousing ovation when he's subbed out late in the game

David Beckham ended his five-year stint in America's pro soccer league in style Saturday as his team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, won the MLS Cup.

Storming back from a deficit, the Galaxy scored three second-half goals -- two of them on penalty kicks -- to beat the Houston Dynamo by a 3-1 score. It marked the second straight year Los Angeles not only won the league championship, but did so by beating Houston.

Dispelling notions about Los Angeles' soccer fans being laid back, many of the roughly 30,000 at Saturday's game at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, erupted after goals from Omar Gonzalez, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane.

They interrupted their cheers with colorful chants and songs, including one by the exuberant Riot Squad fan club toasting the home team's outgoing midfielder by singing "One David Beckham" to the tune of "Guantanamera."

More spry than he was during last year's title game when he was hampered by a hamstring injury, Beckham was very involved in play all game long and was part in several near misses, though he didn't factor into any goals.

Fans thanked him with a thunderous ovation as he left the pitch, on a substitution, late in the game.

Asked about his stint with the Galaxy, he said he hoped people had enjoyed watching him play and that he'd brought "a bit of interest to the game."

"I just want to thank everyone over the U.S. and around the game for the support that I've had over the years," Beckham said.

Beckham had a stand-out career playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid, and captained the England national team when he joined the Galaxy -- and helped raise Major League Soccer's profile in the United States and beyond -- in 2007.

Nearly two weeks ago, team officials announced that the Englishman would no longer play for the Galaxy or any other MLS team after Saturday's contest. The move came ten months after Beckham signed a reported two-year contract with the squad, rebuffing a number of offers from leading European clubs.

The November statement gave no indication where he was headed, but in a statement released by the team, Beckham said he "wanted to experience one last challenge before the end of my playing career."

"I don't see this as the end of my relationship with the league as my ambition is to be part of the ownership structure in the future," he added.

Beckham has been a global icon of the sport for years, inspiring the 2002 movie "Bend It Like Beckham." A UNICEF ambassador, he's also been a hot item off the field as a model and as husband of former Spice Girls singer and fashionista Victoria Beckham.